Noisy Gearbox

[gmaw]

Hi, I hope somebody can give me some advice here. The gearbox on my L Reg 2.5L Petrol Caravelle Synchro has started making a rattling noise which stops when the clutch is depressed. There is a patch of gear oil roughly behind the driver's side front wheel on the drive where it is usually parked. When I removed the tray under the engine I noticed that the gaiter on the offside drive shaft at the inboard end is split and the area around it is covered in oil.

I suspect that the gearbox noise is the result of this leak, but I am not sure how the lubrication system works. Is it possible for oil from the gearbox to pass through the synchro (4 wheel drive) unit and leak out of the driveshaft gaiter? I am planning to check/refill the gearbox oil level before I drive it to the garage on Tuesday.

If the gearbox has lost oil, what is the likely extent of the damage and can it be repaired?

Any advice will be most gratefully received.